It’s not just district basketball in February – just ask students who are part of the Pirate Media Program at Grants High School. GHS instructor Ron Gonzales led his media class to a blue trophy in the Scholastic Publications competition. What is Scholastic Publications you may ask?
The competition includes news features and sports in categories such as writing, poetry, short stories and broadcasting.
Though the competition has been around for decades, Gonzales felt his classes were ready to compete and this year – his third year competing. The team Gonzales fielded last week took first place.
“I am ecstatic for my students and I’m ecstatic for Grants High School to have earned another blue trophy,” said Gonzales.
“We did exceedingly well—altogether we had the highest team score of the teams that competed–we had many good students in all those categories.”
Gonzales added, “Realizing that you are a state champion, is one of the best feelings a young person can experience.”
One of those students who competed, Gabby Gonzales said, “This experience has proven to me that hard work and dedication can pay off in anything you put your mind to,” said Gonzales. “As a team, this has shown me how everyone plays a very important role when it comes to being in a team— I’m super proud of all of us.”
Another competing student, Myla Waconda said, “I am super happy to have won first place in this NMAA competition. I hope that my teammates and I can continue to do great things for ourselves and the school.”
The Pirates placed first followed by Highland in second then Portales with third place.
The GHS website features the writing pieces of the students who competed for anyone that would like to visit and see their work.
The broadcasting pieces are posted on the GHS Facebook pages.
Results for the competition are as follows: Newswriting: Reilly Burress 2nd place
Sportswriting: Hailey Rose 2nd, Tyrick Nelson 3rd Sports Action Photography: Angelina Meza 1st Anyssia Perez 2nd Poetry: Jenna Chavez
3rd
Short Story: Madison Orona 1st, Marli Prendergast 3rd Broadcast News: Gabby Gonzales/Myla Waconda 1st Broadcast Sports: Aubrhy Garcia/Keaton Long 1st, Estevan Barela/Ethan Taylor/Zeth Villasana 2nd Broadcast Feature: Rhyan Brown 1st, Kylee Sandoval/Maya Yates 2nd News Anchor: Logan Hooper 2nd